'May medalyang iuuwi': Aira Villegas grateful after first Olympics stint | ABS-CBN
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'May medalyang iuuwi': Aira Villegas grateful after first Olympics stint
'May medalyang iuuwi': Aira Villegas grateful after first Olympics stint
Camille B. Naredo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Aug 07, 2024 04:30 PM PHT
Turkey's Buse Naz Cakiroglu and Philippines' Aira Villegas (Blue) compete in the women's 50kg semi-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 6, 2024. Mohd Rasfan, AFP
Turkey's Buse Naz Cakiroglu and Philippines' Aira Villegas (Blue) compete in the women's 50kg semi-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 6, 2024. Mohd Rasfan, AFPFilipina boxer Aira Villegas remains grateful despite falling short of the gold medal match in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Filipina boxer Aira Villegas remains grateful despite falling short of the gold medal match in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A first-time Olympian, Villegas emerged as a bronze medalist after reaching the semis of the women's 50kg division, where she eventually lost to Türkiye's Buse Naz Çakıroğlu.
A first-time Olympian, Villegas emerged as a bronze medalist after reaching the semis of the women's 50kg division, where she eventually lost to Türkiye's Buse Naz Çakıroğlu.
"Sa lahat ng mga kababayan po natin, thank you so much po," the 29-year-old Villegas said in a brief interview after her fight on Tuesday at the Roland-Garros Stadium (early Wednesday in Manila).
"Sa lahat ng mga kababayan po natin, thank you so much po," the 29-year-old Villegas said in a brief interview after her fight on Tuesday at the Roland-Garros Stadium (early Wednesday in Manila).
"And then, ginawa ko po 'yung best, pero hindi pa po binigay. But ayun po, may medalya po tayong iuuwi," she added.
"And then, ginawa ko po 'yung best, pero hindi pa po binigay. But ayun po, may medalya po tayong iuuwi," she added.
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It has been an Olympics to remember for Villegas, who qualified for the Paris Games through the 1st Boxing World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Italy last March.
It has been an Olympics to remember for Villegas, who qualified for the Paris Games through the 1st Boxing World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Italy last March.
The first member of the Philippine boxing team to plunge into action, Villegas made sure the country got off to a good start with a unanimous decision win over Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco.
The first member of the Philippine boxing team to plunge into action, Villegas made sure the country got off to a good start with a unanimous decision win over Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco.
She then pulled off an upset in the round-of-16 when she outpointed Algeria's Roumaysa Boualam, who was seeded second in their division. On the same day she turned 29, Villegas displayed her poise against Boualam, powering through in the third round to secure the win.
She then pulled off an upset in the round-of-16 when she outpointed Algeria's Roumaysa Boualam, who was seeded second in their division. On the same day she turned 29, Villegas displayed her poise against Boualam, powering through in the third round to secure the win.
Her fighting spirit was on full display in the quarterfinals, as Villegas shocked a hometown bet in Wassila Lkhadiri to assure herself of a medal. In a thrilling encounter, the Filipina silenced the crowd at the North Paris Arena as she won a 3-2 split decision.
Her fighting spirit was on full display in the quarterfinals, as Villegas shocked a hometown bet in Wassila Lkhadiri to assure herself of a medal. In a thrilling encounter, the Filipina silenced the crowd at the North Paris Arena as she won a 3-2 split decision.
Villegas acknowledged that she ran into a better fighter in the semis, telling One Sports in a post-fight interview that Çakıroğlu has already beaten her before.
Villegas acknowledged that she ran into a better fighter in the semis, telling One Sports in a post-fight interview that Çakıroğlu has already beaten her before.
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"Hindi pa ako nakabawi," she said. "In the future magkikita at magkikita pa rin kami. Sa susunod, kailangan ko talagang bumawi."
"Hindi pa ako nakabawi," she said. "In the future magkikita at magkikita pa rin kami. Sa susunod, kailangan ko talagang bumawi."
"Aminado pong magaling po talaga siya. Pero siyempre, for me nagawa ko lahat ng best ko, and I hope po, sa lahat po ng Pilipino na, again napuyat, I'm sorry guys. Nakapag-uwi po ako ng medalya po. Sana po proud pa rin po kayo sa akin," Villegas also said.
"Aminado pong magaling po talaga siya. Pero siyempre, for me nagawa ko lahat ng best ko, and I hope po, sa lahat po ng Pilipino na, again napuyat, I'm sorry guys. Nakapag-uwi po ako ng medalya po. Sana po proud pa rin po kayo sa akin," Villegas also said.
The boxer is also aiming for a return to the Summer Games in 2028 in Los Angeles, where she seeks a higher place in the podium.
The boxer is also aiming for a return to the Summer Games in 2028 in Los Angeles, where she seeks a higher place in the podium.
"Sa younger self ko po, I know that you are already proud of me," said Villegas. "To my future self, mas lalo ka pang magiging proud sa akin. Gagawin ko para 'yung pangarap na bago man lang mag-retire sa boxing, is patugtugan ako ng national anthem ng bansa natin sa mismong Olympics." -- with Cignal TV/POC Media
"Sa younger self ko po, I know that you are already proud of me," said Villegas. "To my future self, mas lalo ka pang magiging proud sa akin. Gagawin ko para 'yung pangarap na bago man lang mag-retire sa boxing, is patugtugan ako ng national anthem ng bansa natin sa mismong Olympics." -- with Cignal TV/POC Media
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